Tray c. 1941

This is Charles Henning's "Tray," made with watercolor, graphite, and maybe some gouache on paper, and it’s got this lovely handmade feel to it. I love how the octagonal shape repeats itself, echoing from the outer edge to the central panel. The colors, kind of muted reds, greens, and grays, feel almost like they've aged a bit, giving it this sense of history, as though it is an old tray. The paint is laid down in thin washes, allowing the paper to peek through, but it also has some denser areas where the colors become more concentrated. The floral patterns in the center are intricate and almost ghostly against the muted palette. There’s a looseness in the application that really appeals to me; it's less about precision and more about capturing the essence of the object. This reminds me a little of some of the Shaker designs with its emphasis on simplicity and functionality, but with this added layer of ornamentation. It's like Henning is inviting us to see the beauty in the everyday.